Through the first three months of the 2013-14 academic year, Oregon Hillel on the University of Oregon campus has seen consistent growth. From connecting with off-campus Jewish organizations to packing students in on Friday nights, Executive Director Andy Gitelson has seen many new initiatives breed success in Eugene’s Jewish community. “I think the big thing…
Mathematics may seem like an odd means for building interfaith bridges, but mathematics teacher and consultant Sherri Adler has met people she would never have encountered without it. Adler lives in the Phoenix area and trains teachers in Singapore Math and Common Core standards. Until recently she was a partner and co-founder of SMARTTraining, LLC,…
It’s really hard to be a self-help author. Despite the warm and fuzzy messages of most self-help books, the publishing industry is cutthroat. In fact, the only thing harder than publishing self-help books, is making a living as a self-help author. After marketing costs, website development and book tours you are lucky to make $1…
As budget constraints force Oregon school districts to shorten school years, increase class sizes and reduce offerings, many families turn to private schools to meet their children’s needs, both scholastic and spiritual. From preschool through college, the teachers profiled here have found a home where they make a difference in students’ lives. Esther Fischer, Maayan…
Jennifer Felberg’s Role at CSP Expands Jennifer Felberg is now the campus life enrichment director at Cedar Sinai Park. Jennifer has worked at CSP for the past five years, first in the Adult Day Service program and, since late 2012, as life enrichment director for Robison Jewish Health Center. Born and raised in Portland, Jennifer…
Rabbi Abby Cohen has wanted to live in Portland since she attended a knitting conference here in 2009. She started rabbinical training 1987, but soon raising two children took priority. She returned to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America later in life and graduated in 2012. Now she’s found her dream job as spiritual director…
Twenty years ago Michael Shapiro wanted to open a different kind of business that fit into the Portland culture. In the five years he had lived in Oregon, he noticed many people with dogs had do-it-yourself attitudes. So he created Beauty for the Beast, a pet launderette that had everything people needed to bathe and…
This month Oregon Jewish Life looks at education and the impact good schools and good teachers can have on children. An excellent teacher influences a child’s life long after the school year ends. A 2012 study by professors at Harvard and Columbia tracked 2.5 million students over 20 years, from fourth grade to adulthood. It…
